The Bible and the Public Schools

“The Bible and the Public Schools” is a sermon delivered by George Nelson Webber at the Congregational Church in Middlebury, Vermont. Webber addresses the contentious issue of Bible reading and religious instruction within public schools during the mid-19th century. The sermon reflects the prevailing Protestant viewpoints of the time, engaging with concerns about the influence of other religious traditions, particularly Roman Catholicism, on the educational system. Webber advocates for the continued presence of the Bible in schools while also emphasizing the importance of religious toleration and guarding against sectarianism. This historical document offers insights into the religious, social, and educational debates that shaped American public education and the role of religion within it. It provides a valuable resource for understanding the historical context of religious freedom and the evolving relationship between church and state in the United States.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.